The Russian-based Wings of Victory Foundation, which supports the restoration and flying operations of WWII warbirds in Russia, announced this morning that a recovery is being made later this week (August 8-10) of an IL-2 Sturmovik in the Murmansk region, where it had made a forced landing on a lake in August 1943. Believed to be in great condition, once the aircraft is recovered it will be sent to Boris Osetinsky's Aviarestoration company in Novosibirsk to be restored to fly - the same company which restored the two currently flying IL-2's. This particular IL-2 will appear somewhat different than the two already flying, as it is one of the single-seat/short canopy variants. From what I gather, the aircraft originally operated with the 3rd Squadron of the 46th ShAP, piloted by Kaličev Alexander Ivanovich, who was able to return to base following the forced landing. Announcement and photos posted here: https://www.facebook.com/wingsofvictory ... Io&fref=nf

As those familiar with these aircraft know, the empenage and vertical tail section of these aircraft were made of wood, and like previous recoveries/projects that section of the aircraft is long gone, but of course the company that will be restoring this aircraft has a lot of experience building those sections brand new (as they did with the other two IL-2's now flying). As the last two photos I linked to show, the horizontal tail section and the rudder were recovered.

As I believe was the case with the previous two flying IL-2 restorations, they're thinking that a good portion of the metal parts and fittings will be able to be reused in the restoration to get it flying.

The airplane is in GREAT shape! A real testament to the motherlands workers 70+ years ago... Nothing that a good wash job wont fix... We have mechanics from a local farm lined up to put things right... When the winter comes and the lake freezes, we will fly her back to Moscow where President Putin will personally accompany the aircraft to the Ukrainian front...

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